Zimmer and ISTO Technologies provided an update yesterday on their research program on engineered juvenile cartilage for the repair of damaged knees. The company plans to enroll up to 225 patients at 25 sites in a new phase III study, which will compare the use of the DeNovo ET Engineered Tissue Graft to microfracture for the repair of cartilage defects in the knee. more

Yesterday the news circulated that CareFusion, an upstart in the vertebral compression fracture market, has sued Medtronic for violating antitrust laws. With a 619-page complaint in a Federal Court no less. Antitrust? A newcomer suing the incumbent right out of the box? Talk about going against a time-honored tradition! more

Alphatec Spine reported 4Q:09 revenues of $36.6 million, an increase of 29% from the $28.4 million reported in 4Q:08. U.S. revenues for the quarter were $28.3 million, an increase of 29% from the $22.0 million reported for 4Q:08. U.S. revenues for the quarter were $28.3 million, an increase of 29% from the $22.0 million reported for 4Q:08. Asian revenues were $6.6 million, an increase of 38% from the $4.8 million reported for 4Q:08. European revenues in 4Q:09 were $1.7 million. more

M&A Alphatec Holdings, Inc. announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Scient'x Groupe SAS, a spinal implant company headquartered in France. The transaction is structured as an all-stock transaction such that 100% of outstanding Scient'x stock... more

M&A The Yorkshire Post reported that DePuy Orthopaedics acquired Finsbury Orthopaedics. Finsbury has a range of hip, knee and small joint replacement products, including a hip resurfacing device. No details of the transaction were disclosed. Funding BioMedFlex raised $0.25 million... more

This is part two of our interview with Adam Deitz, Founder and CEO of Ortho Kinematics. It is continued from here. How have surgeons responded to the KineGraph VMA technology? Adam Deitz: Surgeons love this technology because it gives them... more

Recently we sat down with Adam Deitz, Founder and CEO of Ortho Kinematics to talk about his company's technology, unmet needs in spine surgery and advancing diagnostic capabilities for surgeons. This interview will be published in two parts. Adam, why... more

Earnings Alphatec Holdings, Inc. announced record consolidated revenue of $32.7 million in 3Q:09, which represents 27% growth over 3Q:08. U.S. revenue increased 21% over the prior-year third quarter and 28% over the first nine months of 2008. International revenue was... more

Earnings Anika Therapeutics reported 3Q:09 revenues of $10.1 million, representing an 18% increase over the year-ago period and missing estimates by $0.3 million. Joint Health sales, including the Orthovisc and Monovisc products, were up 31% to $6.1 million. Anika noted... more

M&A Integra LifeSciences acquired the assets of Innovative Spinal Technologies, Inc. (IST) for $9.25 million in cash. Last year the company recorded $2.2 million in revenues, though they ceased operations in January and went into liquidation in May. This transaction... more

Regulatory Active Implants Corporation received a CE Class III Certificate for its TriboFit Hip System. The system is made from a low-wear polycarbonate-urethane material that the company says shares some of the characteristics of human cartilage. MEDICREA received 510(k) clearance... more

Earnings Corin reported 1H:09 sales of GBP 20.1 million ($33.0 million), down 25% over 1H:08 after adjusting for currency and beating estimates by GBP 2.1 million ($3.5 million). Outside the U.S., revenues increased by 10%, which the company attributed to... more

Earnings aap Implantate reported 1H:09 sales of EUR 14.7 million ($20.7 million), representing a 10% decreased from 1H:08. Adjusting for one-time income, sales were down 3%, and in the second half of 2009, the company "anticipates a recovery in demand... more

Earnings Exactech reported 2Q:09 revenues of $43.3 million, representing a 1% decrease from the year-ago period and beating estimates by $0.3 million. The company reported net income of $2.6 million, or $0.20 per share, representing a 14% decrease from 2Q:08... more

Earnings Anika Therapeutics reported 2Q:09 revenue of $9.5 million, representing a 5% increase over 2Q:08 and missing estimates by $0.4 million. The company attributed revenue growth to both the ORTHOVISC and MONOVISC product lines, which contributed $5.6 million to total... more

Earnings Exactech announced that 2Q:09 revenues would be approximately $43.0 million, below earlier guidance and analyst expectations of approximately $45.0 million. The range for full-year 2009 revenue guidance has also been lowered to $167-$173 million. The company attributed 2Q's sales... more

Earnings Biomet reported net sales of $639.0 million for FQ4:09, which represents an increase of 1% as reported and 7% when adjusting for currency. Among segments, recon, excluding dental, increased 3% as reported and 11% constant currency. Dental decreased by... more

M&A The bankruptcy trustee for Innovative Spinal Technologies announced plans to pay creditors by selling the company's patent portfolio and other IP. The company's products include the AXIENT motion-preserving pedicle screw system; the PARAMOUNT MIS pedicle screw system; the PARAMOUNT... more

Earnings aap Implantate reported 1Q:09 revenues of EUR 8.4 million ($11.1 million), representing a 5% increase over the year-ago period. EBITDA for the quarter declined 47% to EUR 0.05 million ($1.1 million). The company says that for the full-year 2009,... more

Earnings Alphatec Spine reported record consolidated revenue of $30.6 million reported in 1Q:09, which represents 32% growth over 1Q:08 and 8% sequential growth over revenues reported in 4Q:08. U.S. revenue growth of 28% over prior year was approximately three times... more

Earnings CONMED reported 1Q:09 revenues of $164.1 million, representing a 7% decrease over 1Q:08 and missing estimates by $9.5 million. Arthroscopic devices contributed $63.9 million in revenue, down 8% over 1Q:08, with the decline due largely to a 24% decrease... more

Earnings JNJ reported 1Q:09 sales of $15.0 billion, missing estimates by $0.4 billion and representing a 7% decline over 1Q:08, which the company attributed mostly to unfavorable exchange rates. Net income was $3.5 billion, or $1.26 per diluted share, beating... more

Earnings Biomet reported FQ3:09 revenues of $615 million, a 7% (constant currency) increase over FQ3:08. Among segments, recon reported growth of 7%, with hip up 10%, knee up 9%, fixation up 4% and dental down 10%, which the company attributed... more

Regulatory Bonesupport received the CE mark for Cerament Bone Void Filler, a ceramic bone substitute primarily used for the treatment of osteoporotic fractures. IlluminOss Medical received the CE mark for its Photodynamic Bone Stabilization System. According to the company, the... more

Earnings Exactech reported 4Q:08 revenues of $40.3 million, representing a 22% increase over 4Q:07 and beating estimates by $0.4 million. Net income was $3.1 million, or $0.24 per share, representing a 15% increase over 4Q:07 and beating estimates by $0.04.... more

Funding In addition to its regularly scheduled payments, Orthofix International will make a $10 million debt prepayment on December 29th in advance of the scheduled maturity. According to Executive Vice President and CFO Bob Vaters, "This is a good time... more

Earnings Stryker announced a 2008 dividend of $0.40 per share, an increase of 21% over the 2007 dividend, which is payable January 30, 2009. President and CEO Stephen MacMillan said the increased dividend reflects the company's continued growth and strong... more

M&A Trading was suspended for Portland Orthopaedics on news that the company may be selling its assets. Intellectual Property BioMimetic Therapeutics has received patent No. 11/159,533 covering its PDGF technology, including Augment Bone Graft and Augment Injectable Bone Graft. The... more

M&A Life Spine, Inc. has acquired the "majority" of the intellectual property of Spinal Generations, LLC. Neither details on the acquired technology nor terms of the transaction were disclosed. Funding Harvard received a $125 million donation from Synthes Chairman Hansjorg... more

M&A BoneSupport acquired Ultrazonix, the developer of an ultrasound-based treatment for alleviating pain associated with herniated discs. The product is FDA-cleared and CE-marked. Financial terms were not disclosed. Funding Formae received an investment of $0.5 million from BioAdvance, the Biotechnology... more

Earnings BioMimetic Therapeutics reported a 2Q:08 net loss of $9.2 million, or $0.50 per diluted share, widening from a net loss of $6.4 million, or $0.35 per diluted share, in 2Q:07. Clinical highlights for the quarter include the announcement of... more

IP Michigan-based Smart Disc, Inc. received a Notice of Allowance from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for U.S. patent application number 10/838,515, covering the company's artificial disc technology. The device can be implanted using a posterior approach and is... more

Queensland University Of Technology researchers are developing a device they call a "smarthroscope," designed to be a more sensitive alternative to an arthroscope. Professor Kunle Oloyede, who received a grant from the National Health and Medical Research Council to develop... more

Earnings Biomet announced preliminary FQ3:08 revenues of $603.1 million, an increase of 14% over the year-ago period. By segment, reconstructive device sales increased 19% worldwide and 13% in the U.S.; knee sales increased 24% worldwide and 21% in the U.S.,... more

Earnings Hanger Orthopedic Group reported 4Q:07 net sales of $170.8 million, beating estimates by $7.5 million and representing an 11% over the year-ago period. Revenue growth was attributed to an increase in same-center sales from Hanger's patient care business, an... more

Earnings Smith & Nephew announced 4Q:07 revenues of $967.0 million, beating estimates of $933.0 million and reflecting a 25% (reported) increase over 4Q:06. Adjusted earnings per share was $0.16, in line in estimates and up 10% over the year-ago period.... more

Earnings JNJ reported 4Q:07 revenues of $15.96 billion, up 17% over the year-ago period and beating consensus estimates of $15.4 billion. Net income was $2.37 billion, or $0.82 per share, missing estimates by $0.04. Depuy reported 4Q:07 sales of $1.21... more

Regulatory Amedica received FDA clearance for their Valeo™ Pedicle Screw system, a low profile and modular pedicle screw system intended for non-cervical pedicle fixation from the T1 through L5. Corin announced FDA clearance for additional sizes of its Cormet hip... more

Earnings Biomet reported FQ1:08 sales of $552.3 million, up 9% over the comparable quarter. The company reported a net loss for the quarter of $42.9 million, down from an income of $104.4 million for FQ1:07. The company attributed the loss... more

We attended the 5th Annual Musculoskeletal New Ventures conference this week in Memphis, home of Elvis, FedEx and Gibson Guitars. There were 190 attendees (same level as last year), including many of the orthopedic industry’s development leaders. Among them were... more

M&A Orthofix acquired the rights to all of the intellectual property related to the InSWing™ interspinous process spacer. InSWing is designed to relieve pain associated with lumbar spinal stenosis and can be used in a minimally invasive surgical procedure. Orthofix... more

Regulatory Inion Oy received FDA approval for its implant material BioRestore in dental and cranio-maxillofacial applications. The product is designed to fill bony voids or gaps in the skeleton. BioRestore is currently being reviewed by the FDA for use in... more

Earnings Globus Medical announced 2Q:07 revenues of $30.2 million, an increase of 52% over the comparable quarter. The company attributes the revenue growth to the expansion of its sales and distribution footprint, product introductions in its fusion, MIS and biomaterials... more

Earnings aap Implantate announced 38% growth in revenues following its consolidation with Fame Medical Group. Revenues in 1H:07 totaled EUR 12.7 million. Highlights from 2Q:07 include a reported double-digit increase in international sales in the Trauma & Joint Reconstruction segment... more

Regulatory Life Spine announced 510(k) clearance for its static anterior cervical plating system Neo®-SL. The system features an integrated lock that allows bone screws to be securely fixated without any additional locking components. The FDA approved new labeling for Genzyme's... more

Earnings Biologics Integra LifeSciences announced 1Q:07 revenues of $123.0 million, beating estimates of $119.25 million and reflecting a 60% increase over 1Q:06. Net income for the quarter was $9.07 million, or $0.33 per share, meeting analysts' estimates. President and CEO... more

Earnings aap Implantate AG announced 2006 revenues of EUR 18.5 million, up 38% from the previous year. The aap Group attributed the growth to the Biomaterials segment, where sales increased by 64% to EUR 12.2 million. Biomaterials now generates two... more

Earnings Tutogen announced results for first fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2006. Total revenues increased 43% to $11.5 million, compared to $8.0 million in the comparable quarter of fiscal year 2006. U.S. revenues increased 50%, and international revenues increased 27%... more

Earnings Kyphon Inc. announced 4Q:06 sales totaling $112.6 million, an increase of 31% over the $85.8 million in net sales reported for the 4Q:05. Net income for 4Q:06 increased 228% to $12.2 million, or $0.26 per diluted share, compared to... more

M&A Paragon Medical has entered into an agreement to acquire OMC Precision Products and Tutela Medicus. OMC provides machining, finishing and assembly of implants, primarily for the spinal and neurological markets, and Tutela offers product development services to device manufacturers... more

Regulatory CryoLife received FDA 510(k) clearance for its ProPatch™ Soft Tissue Repair Matrix, an announcement that drove its stock up 9%. Among other applications, ProPatch can be used to reinforce tissues repaired by sutures or by suture anchors during tendon... more

OrthoMimetics announced it has completed a Gbp5 million Series A raise. Participants include Oxford Capital Partners, Schroders Investment Management, and Sloane Robinson Private Equity, as well as clients of Eden Financial, the placement agent. Joining the board will be Heidi... more

Earnings: Biologics: IsoTis OrthoBiologics reported 2Q:06 revenue of $10.8 million, up 43% compared to $7.5 million in 2Q:05. Its U.S. division grew 22%, while international revenues grew 39%. The Company has three distribution channels: U.S. independent agents, international distributors and... more

In advance of the 6th Annual Spine Arthroplasty Society Meeting, Raymedica has announced interim results on its PDN-SOLO clinical trial. The trial is called "An International Multi-Center Clinical Evaluation of the PDN-SOLO(R) Device" and will be presented on the morning... more

Our current forecast for the orthopedic industry projects continued long term growth of 15%. For 2006, we expect growth to be slightly below this trend, at 12%. Despite continued strength in other segments of the industry, hip and knee reconstruction... more

Privately held ONI Medical Systems announced that Peter Pellerito will join as President and CEO. Peter's background is in ultrasound imaging, first at ATL, and then at GE Healthcare. At GE Healthcare he was most recently the VP and General... more

Doctors pushed back against marketing and commercial pressures from the pharmaceutical and medical device industries last week. On January 25, the American Medical Association (JAMA) published "Health Industry Practices That Create Conflicts of Interest: A Policy Proposal for Academic Medical... more

Archus Orthopedics announced today that they have closed a Series C financing, raising $35m from institutional and strategic investors. J&J's corporate VC arm, J&J Development Corp., led the round. Archus' current investors, including MPM Capital, InterWest Partners and Polaris Venture... more

A New Jersey company, Juvent, is introducing a new way to treat osteoporosis. The product was initially developed at the State University of NY at Stony Brook, with funding from the US Army and NASA. The Juvent 1000 Dynamic Motion... more

Small Bone Innovations Inc. (SBI), a maker of orthopedic devices for the extremities, announced today that it raised $42.2m in a Series B financing. NGN Capital and 3i led the round with $12m each, and they were joined by Axiom... more

Facet Solutions, a Logan, UT based privately held company, recently closed its Series B funding. The $16.5m round was led by Pequot Ventures and De Novo Ventures, who were joined by Series A lead Spray Venture Partners. According to Spray's... more

SpineVision, a French spinal implant company, announced the close of a Series D fundraising. They added $16m to the $30.6m they've raised since 1999. The round was led by Bio*One Capital, the investment arm of the Singapore Economic Development Board.... more

[Editor's note: We welcome attorney Richard Zall of Mintz, Levin as a guest blogger to answer a question posed by a reader in response to Joane Goodroe's Gainsharing post earlier this week. See Zall's profile here.] Interested in your thoughts... more

The NYT runs an astute roundup (registration required) of the the "depressing" delay by some insurers to cover Charite surgery. they note the market tumult that might be caused by possible FDA approval of Synthes' ProDisc, Medtronic's Maverick, and Stryker's... more